Psalms 27-35
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 27
1The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom should I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom should I dread? 2When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3If an army encamps against me, My heart will not fear; If war arises against me, In spite of this I am confident. 4One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. 5For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; He will hide me in the secret place of His tent; He will lift me up on a rock. 6And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. 7Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. 8 When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'I shall seek Your face, Lord.' 9Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the Lord will take me up. 11Teach me Your way, Lord, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies. 12Do not turn me over to the desire of my enemies, For false witnesses have risen against me, And the violent witness. 13I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.Chapter 28
1To You, Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. 2Hear the sound of my pleadings when I cry to You for help, When I raise my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. 3Do not drag me away with the wicked And with those who practice injustice, Who speak peace with their neighbors, While evil is in their hearts. 4Give back to them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices; Give back to them according to the work of their hands; Repay them what is due them. 5Because they do not regard the works of the Lord Nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up. 6Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the sound of my pleading. 7The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart triumphs, And with my song I shall thank Him. 8The Lord is their strength, And He is a refuge of salvation to His anointed. 9Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.Chapter 29
1Ascribe to the Lord, sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Worship the Lord in holy attire. 3The voice of the Lord is on the waters; The God of glory thunders, The Lord is over many waters. 4The voice of the Lord is powerful, The voice of the Lord is majestic. 5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; Yes, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon in pieces. 6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox. 7The voice of the Lord divides flames of fire. 8The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everything says, 'Glory!' 10The Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord sits as King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.Chapter 30
1I will exalt You, Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my enemies rejoice over me. 2Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. 3Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. 4Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, And praise the mention of His holiness. 5For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. 6Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, 'I will never be moved.' 7Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong; You hid Your face, I was dismayed. 8To You, Lord, I called, And to the Lord I pleaded for compassion: 9'What gain is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness? 10'Hear, Lord, and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper.' 11You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have untied my sackcloth and encircled me with joy, 12That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.Chapter 31
1In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame; In Your righteousness rescue me. 2Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be a rock of strength for me, A stronghold to save me. 3For You are my rock and my fortress; For the sake of Your name You will lead me and guide me. 4You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. 5Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth. 6I hate those who devote themselves to worthless idols, But I trust in the Lord. 7I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithfulness, Because You have seen my misery; You have known the troubles of my soul, 8And You have not handed me over to the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place. 9Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am in distress; My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body too. 10For my life is spent with sorrow And my years with sighing; My strength has failed because of my guilt, And my body has wasted away. 11Because of all my adversaries, I have become a disgrace, Especially to my neighbors, And an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me in the street flee from me. 12I am forgotten like a dead person, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. 13For I have heard the slander of many, Terror is on every side; While they took counsel together against me, They schemed to take away my life. 14But as for me, I trust in You, Lord, I say, 'You are my God.' 15My times are in Your hand; Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. 16Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your faithfulness. 17Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol. 18Let the lying lips be speechless, Which speak arrogantly against the righteous With pride and contempt. 19How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have performed for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of mankind! 20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of mankind; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. 21Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown His marvelous faithfulness to me in a besieged city. 22As for me, I said in my alarm, 'I am cut off from Your eyes'; Nevertheless You heard the sound of my pleadings When I called to You for help. 23Love the Lord, all His godly ones! The Lord watches over the faithful But fully repays the one who acts arrogantly. 24Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who wait for the Lord.Chapter 32
1 How blessed is he whose wrongdoing is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2How blessed is a person whose guilt the Lord does not take into account, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality failed as with the dry heat of summer. Selah 5I acknowledged my sin to You, And I did not hide my guilt; I said, 'I will confess my wrongdoings to the Lord'; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah 6Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Certainly in a flood of great waters, they will not reach him. 7You are my hiding place; You keep me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 8I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you. 9Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10The sorrows of the wicked are many, But the one who trusts in the Lord, goodness will surround him. 11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.Chapter 33
1Sing for joy in the Lord, you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. 2Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. 3Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. 4For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in faithfulness. 5He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. 6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their lights. 7He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He puts the depths in storehouses. 8Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. 9For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood firm. 10The Lord nullifies the plan of nations; He frustrates the plans of peoples. 11The plan of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. 12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen for His own inheritance. 13The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of mankind; 14From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth, 15He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. 16The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not rescued by great strength. 17A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it rescue anyone by its great strength. 18Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who wait for His faithfulness, 19To rescue their soul from death And to keep them alive in famine. 20Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. 21For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. 22Let Your favor, Lord, be upon us, Just as we have waited for You.Chapter 34
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice. 3Exalt the Lord with me, And let’s exalt His name together. 4I sought the Lord and He answered me, And rescued me from all my fears. 5They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. 6This wretched man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. 8Taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9Fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no lack of anything. 10The young lions do without and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. 11Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12Who is the person who desires life And loves length of days, that he may see good? 13Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. 14Turn from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 15The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears are toward their cry for help. 16The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To eliminate the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears And rescues them from all their troubles. 18The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19The afflictions of the righteous are many, But the Lord rescues him from them all. 20He protects all his bones, Not one of them is broken. 21Evil will bring death to the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt. 22The Lord redeems the souls of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will suffer for their guilt.Chapter 35
1Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. 2Take hold of buckler and shield And rise up as my help. 3Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.' 4Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me. 5Let them be like chaff before the wind, With the angel of the Lord driving them on. 6Let their way be dark and slippery, With the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 7For they hid their net for me without cause; Without cause they dug a pit for my soul. 8Let destruction come upon him when he is unaware, And let the net which he hid catch him; Let him fall into that very destruction. 9So my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation. 10All my bones will say, 'Lord, who is like You, Who rescues the afflicted from one who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the poor from one who robs him?' 11Malicious witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. 12They repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my soul. 13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, But my prayer kept returning to me. 14I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down in mourning, like one who mourns for a mother. 15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; The afflicted people whom I did not know gathered together against me, They slandered me without ceasing. 16Like godless jesters at a feast, They gnashed at me with their teeth. 17Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, My only life from the lions. 18I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty people. 19Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those who hate me for no reason wink maliciously. 20For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land. 21They opened their mouth wide against me; They said, 'Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it!' 22You have seen it, Lord, do not keep silent; Lord, do not be far from me. 23Stir Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord. 24Judge me, Lord my God, according to Your righteousness, And do not let them rejoice over me. 25Do not let them say in their heart, 'Aha, our desire!' Do not let them say, 'We have swallowed him up!' 26May those be ashamed and altogether humiliated who rejoice at my distress; May those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and dishonor. 27May those shout for joy and rejoice, who take delight in my vindication; And may they say continually, 'The Lord be exalted, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.' 28And my tongue shall proclaim Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.King James Version
Chapter 29
1A Psalm of David. Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.Chapter 32
1A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
6By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
18The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 27
1Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— whom should I dread? 2When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid; though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident.
4I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple.
5For he will conceal me in his shelter in the day of adversity; he will hide me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
6Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Lord, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8My heart says this about you: "Seek his face." Lord, I will seek your face.
9Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation.
10Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.
11Because of my adversaries, show me your way, Lord, and lead me on a level path.
12Do not give me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing violence.
13I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
14Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.
2Listen to the sound of my pleading when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your holy sanctuary.
3Do not drag me away with the wicked, with the evildoers, who speak in friendly ways with their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.
4Repay them according to what they have done— according to the evil of their deeds. Repay them according to the work of their hands; give them back what they deserve.
5Because they do not consider what the Lord has done or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and not rebuild them.
6Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the sound of my pleading.
7The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to him with my song.
8The Lord is the strength of his people; he is a stronghold of salvation for his anointed.
9Save your people, bless your possession, shepherd them, and carry them forever.
Chapter 29
1A psalm of David. Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
3The voice of the Lord is above the waters. The God of glory thunders— the Lord, above the vast water,
4the voice of the Lord in power, the voice of the Lord in splendor.
5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion, like a young wild ox.
7The voice of the Lord flashes flames of fire.
8The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the woodlands bare. In his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned, King forever.
11The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Chapter 30
1A psalm; a dedication song for the house. Of David. I will exalt you, Lord, because you have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me. 2 Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me.
3 Lord, you brought me up from Sheol; you spared me from among those going down to the Pit.
4Sing to the Lord, you his faithful ones, and praise his holy name.
5For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.
6When I was secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
7 Lord, when you showed your favor, you made me stand like a strong mountain; when you hid your face, I was terrified.
8 Lord, I called to you; I sought favor from my Lord:
9"What gain is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your truth?
10 Lord, listen and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper."
11You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12so that I can sing to you and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Chapter 31
1For the choir director. A psalm of David. Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. Save me by your righteousness. 2Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me. 3For you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name’s sake. 4You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for you are my refuge.
5Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.
6I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.
7I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul
8and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place.
9Be gracious to me, Lord, because I am in distress; my eyes are worn out from frustration— my whole being as well.
10Indeed, my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my strength has failed because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.
11I am ridiculed by all my adversaries and even by my neighbors. I am dreaded by my acquaintances; those who see me in the street run from me.
12I am forgotten: gone from memory like a dead person—like broken pottery.
13I have heard the gossip of many; terror is on every side. When they conspired against me, they plotted to take my life.
14But I trust in you, Lord; I say, "You are my God."
15The course of my life is in your power; rescue me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors.
16Make your face shine on your servant; save me by your faithful love.
17 Lord, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be quiet in Sheol.
18Let lying lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous in proud contempt be silenced.
19How great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who fear you and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in you.
20You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues.
21Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me in a city under siege.
22In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help.
23Love the Lord, all his faithful ones. The Lord protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant.
24Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord.
Chapter 32
1Of David. A Maskil. How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
2How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!
3When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
4For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah
5Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.
7You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah
8I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
9Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.
10Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him.
11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Chapter 33
1Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful. 2Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to him with a ten-stringed harp.
3Sing a new song to him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.
4For the word of the Lord is right, and all his work is trustworthy.
5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love.
6The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth.
7He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; he puts the depths into storehouses.
8Let the whole earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence.
10The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations; he thwarts the plans of the peoples.
11The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation.
12Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord — the people he has chosen to be his own possession!
13The Lord looks down from heaven; he observes everyone.
14He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from his dwelling place.
15He forms the hearts of them all; he considers all their works.
16A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength.
17The horse is a false hope for safety; it provides no escape by its great power.
18But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him— those who depend on his faithful love
19to rescue them from death and to keep them alive in famine.
20We wait for the Lord; he is our help and shield.
21For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name.
22May your faithful love rest on us, Lord, for we put our hope in you.
Chapter 34
1Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech, who drove him out, and he departed. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad.
3Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me; let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
5Those who look to him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.
8Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
9You who are his holy ones, fear the Lord, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.
11Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12Who is someone who desires life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
14Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.
15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help.
16The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to remove all memory of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
18The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.
19One who is righteous has many adversities, but the Lord rescues him from them all.
20He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22The Lord redeems the life of his servants, and all who take refuge in him will not be punished.
Chapter 35
1Of David. Oppose my opponents, Lord; fight those who fight me. 2Take your shields—large and small— and come to my aid.
3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers, and assure me: "I am your deliverance."
4Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and humiliated; let those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.
5Let them be like chaff in the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away.
6Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7They hid their net for me without cause; they dug a pit for me without cause.
8Let ruin come on him unexpectedly, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his ruin.
9Then I will rejoice in the Lord; I will delight in his deliverance.
10All my bones will say, "Lord, who is like you, rescuing the poor from one too strong for him, the poor or the needy from one who robs him?"
11Malicious witnesses come forward; they question me about things I do not know.
12They repay me evil for good, making me desolate.
13Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.
14I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for a mother.
15But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.
16With godless mockery they gnashed their teeth at me.
17Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages; rescue my precious life from the young lions.
18I will praise you in the great assembly; I will exalt you among many people.
19Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let those who hate me without cause wink at me maliciously.
20For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive fraudulent schemes against those who live peacefully in the land.
21They open their mouths wide against me and say, "Aha, aha! We saw it!"
22You saw it, Lord; do not be silent. Lord, do not be far from me.
23Wake up and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
24Vindicate me, Lord my God, in keeping with your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me.
25Do not let them say in their hearts, "Aha! Just what we wanted." Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"
26Let those who rejoice at my misfortune be disgraced and humiliated; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and reproach.
27Let those who want my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them continually say, "The Lord be exalted. He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being."
28And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praise all day long.
New Living Translation
Chapter 27
1The Lord is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? 2When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
4The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most — is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
5For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.
7Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me!
8My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'
9Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation!
10Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.
11Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.
12Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
Chapter 28
1I pray to you, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die. 2Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.
3Do not drag me away with the wicked — with those who do evil — those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts.
4Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness. Pay them back for all their evil deeds! Give them a taste of what they have done to others.
5They care nothing for what the Lord has done or for what his hands have made. So he will tear them down, and they will never be rebuilt!
6Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy.
7The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
8The Lord gives his people strength. He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.
9Save your people! Bless Israel, your special possession. Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in your arms forever.
Chapter 29
1Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings ; honor the Lord for his glory and strength. 2Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
3The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
4The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf; he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
7The voice of the Lord strikes with bolts of lightning.
8The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, 'Glory!'
10The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as king forever.
11The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
Chapter 30
1I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. 2O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. 3You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
4Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.
5For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.
6When I was prosperous, I said, 'Nothing can stop me now!'
7Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
8I cried out to you, O Lord. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
9'What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave? Can my dust praise you? Can it tell of your faithfulness?
10Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord.'
11You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
12that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
Chapter 31
1O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. 2Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. 3You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. 4Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone. 5I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.
6I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord.
7I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.
8You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.
9Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away.
10I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.
11I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors — even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they run the other way.
12I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot.
13I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.
14But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, 'You are my God!'
15My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.
17Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave.
18Silence their lying lips — those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.
19How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.
20You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.
21Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
22In panic I cried out, 'I am cut off from the Lord!' But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.
23Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
24So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!
Chapter 32
1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.
8The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
9Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.'
10Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Chapter 33
1Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. 2Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. 3Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. 4For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. 5He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
6The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
7He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
8Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.
9For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.
10The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.
11But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
13The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.
14From his throne he observes all who live on the earth.
15He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.
16The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
17Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory — for all its strength, it cannot save you.
18But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.
19He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.
20We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.
21In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
22Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.
Chapter 34
1 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. 2I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. 3Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
4I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
5Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
7For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
8Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.
10Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
11Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
12Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?
13Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!
14Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
15The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.
16But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.
17The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.
18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
19The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
20For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!
21Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Chapter 35
1O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. 2Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. 3Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say, 'I will give you victory!' 4Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me. 5Blow them away like chaff in the wind — a wind sent by the angel of the Lord. 6Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 7I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me. 8So let sudden ruin come upon them! Let them be caught in the trap they set for me! Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.
9Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me.
10With every bone in my body I will praise him: 'Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?'
11Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.
12They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair.
13Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.
14I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother.
15But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly.
16They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.
17How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions!
18Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.
19Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.
20They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.
21They shout, 'Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!'
22O Lord, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord.
23Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord.
24Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.
25Don’t let them say, 'Look, we got what we wanted! Now we will eat him alive!'
26May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.
27But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say, 'Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!'
28Then I will proclaim your justice, and I will praise you all day long.
English Standard Version
Chapter 27
1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 5For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, Lord, do I seek." 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!Chapter 28
1To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. 3Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts. 4 Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. 5Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more. 6Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. 8The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.Chapter 29
1Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. 3The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters. 4The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 8The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!" 10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 11May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!Chapter 30
1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 6As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved." 7By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. 8To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9"What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!" 11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!Chapter 31
1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! 2Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name 's sake you lead me and guide me; 4you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 6I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. 7I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, 8and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. 9Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 10For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 11Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13For I hear the whispering of many — terror on every side! — as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 14But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." 15My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! 17O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. 18Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. 19Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 20In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 21Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. 23Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!Chapter 32
1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 6Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!Chapter 33
1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. 2Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! 3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. 4For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. 5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. 6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! 13The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; 14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, 15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. 16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. 18Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. 20Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.Chapter 34
1I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 20He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. 21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 22The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.Chapter 35
1Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 2Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! 3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your salvation!" 4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! 5Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away! 6Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them! 7For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. 8Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it — to his destruction! 9Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation. 10All my bones shall say, "O Lord, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?" 11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. 12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft. 13But I, when they were sick — I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. 14I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning. 15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; 16like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth. 17How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! 18I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you. 19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. 20For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. 21They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!" 22 You have seen, O Lord; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! 23Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! 24 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! 25Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha, our heart 's desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up." 26Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me! 27Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, "Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!" 28Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.New International Version
Chapter 27
1Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
3Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
4One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
6Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
8My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.
10Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.
11Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
13I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
2Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
3Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.
5Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.
6Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
8The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Chapter 29
1A psalm of David. Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
3The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
7The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.
8The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Chapter 30
1A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David. I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
3You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.
4Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.
5For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
7 Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
8To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9"What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help."
11You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Chapter 31
1For the director of music. A psalm of David. In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
5Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
6I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
8You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.
10My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
11Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me.
12I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
13For I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side!" They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
14But I trust in you, Lord; I say, "You are my God."
15My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
16Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
17Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
20In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.
21Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.
22In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
23Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.
24Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Chapter 32
1Of David. A maskil. Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
5Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
7You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
10Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Chapter 33
1Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 2Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
5The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7He gathers the waters of the sea into jars ; he puts the deep into storehouses.
8Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.
9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
10The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
13From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;
14from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—
15he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
16No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
21In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
22May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Chapter 34
1Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left. I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
14Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
21Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Chapter 35
1Of David. Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.
3Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, "I am your salvation."
4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
5May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
6may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,
8may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.
10My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."
11Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.
12They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved.
13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
15But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing.
16Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me.
17How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
18I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.
19Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
20They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
21They sneer at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."
22 Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord.
23Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God; do not let them gloat over me.
New King James Version
Chapter 27
1{A Psalm of David.} The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. 5For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. 7Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me. 11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!Chapter 28
1{A Psalm of David.} To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 2Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. 3Do not take me away with the wicked And with the workers of iniquity, Who speak peace to their neighbors, But evil is in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve. 5Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, Nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them And not build them up. 6Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications! 7The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. 8The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. 9Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.Chapter 29
1{A Psalm of David.} Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. 4The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. 8The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. 9The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” 10The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, And the Lord sits as King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.Chapter 30
1{A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.} I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. 3O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. 6Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” 7Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. 8I cried out to You, O Lord; And to the Lord I made supplication: 9“What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? 10Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.Chapter 31
1{To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.} In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. 2 Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. 3 For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me. 4Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. 5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. 6I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the Lord. 7I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, 8And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place. 9Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! 10For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away. 11 I am a reproach among all my enemies, But especially among my neighbors, And am repulsive to my acquaintances; Those who see me outside flee from me. 12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life. 14But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. 16 Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake. 17 Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You; Let the wicked be ashamed; Let them be silent in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence, Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues. 21Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! 22For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. 23Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. 24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.Chapter 32
1{A Psalm of David. A Contemplation.} Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long.
8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
9Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
